Hydraulic disengaging coupling



June 30, 1936. H` RsLE ET AL 2,045,615

HYDRAULIC DISENGAGING GOUPLING Filed April 17, 19:5() 4 sheets-shew 1 H. RSLE ET Al. HYDRAULIC DISENGAGING coUPLING June 3o, 193e.

4 Sheets-Sheet9 2 Filed April 17, 1930 y f gq Ano/mex Patented June 30, 4v1936 s UNITED; sTATEs PATENT ori-'lcs Application April 17, 1950, Serial No. 445,186

In Germany April 18, 1929 16 Claims.

This* invention relates to coupling apparatus, and has for its general object and purpose to provide I simple and compactly arranged means whereby large torques or turning moments may be transmitted without shock to the driving and driven parts. v

It is a more particular object of the invention to provide coupling apparatus of `this character embodying a hydraulically actuated non-flexible friction coupling in combination with a exible coupling. We further'contemplate the use as an additional element in the combination, of a hydraulically operated slip coupling.

It is an additional object of our invention to provide a single enclosing casing for the several coupling units which enables the apparatus to be employed in connection with driving and driven shafts of relatively short lengths and also simplifies the mounting or supporting of the several parts of the coupling.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an improved control means governing the supply of the hydraulic operating fluid whereby the hydraulic slip coupling is first automatically actuated and after reaching a certain secondary speed, the friction coupling is automatically actuated to assume the full turning moment inthetransmission of power from the driving to the driven shaft.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the'improved coupling apparatus, and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of itsv several parts as will be hereinafter lmore fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings,l wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding .parts throughout the several views.

Figures 1 and 2v illustrate a preferred embodiment of the improved coupling apparatus show-,- ing the several parts in engaged and disengaged positions respectively;

Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive, illustrate various detail parts of the apparatus, and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing one embodiment of the automatic control means for the hydraulically actuated coupling units.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the driving shaft a1 extends through4 a suitable stuing box a at one side of the casing or housing D which encloses the severalcoupling units; To said l driving shaft within the casing. the part a3 of a hydraulic slip coupling A is secured. The disc b2 of a hydraulically actuated friction coupling B 1s nso connected with driving shaft a1 through the medium of a exible coupling C and axially displaceable relative to the revolving parts of A. The other friction disc b1 is axially displaceable relative to the disc l)2 and is normally yieldingly held in disengaged position by a plurality of springs indicated at b" interposed between said discs adjacent their outer peripheries.

'I'he driven shaft b4 is provided with a bore which accommodates the hydraulic fluid supply pipes a4 and b6 for the admission of operating uid for the hydraulic slip coupling A and the friction coupling B respectively. The driven shaft extends through a suitable stuiiing box b5 at the other side of the casing D. ',Io the end of said driven shaft within the casing, the other part a5 of the hydraulic slip coupling A is secured. y The friction disc b3 of the hydraulically operated friction coupling4 B is also secured to the driven shaft and is disposed between the friction plates or discs b1 and b2. These discs in their disengaged positions are balanced with respect to the part a3 by contact with the beveled or conical surfaces f1, f4 of said part, and in their effective engaged positions by contact with the conical surfaces f2, f3 of the friction disc b3. The outer peripheral parts of the friction plates or discs b1 and ll are `formed and arranged within -the hydraulic uid pressure chamber g t'o form the space i, accommodating springs b", so that very simple packing may be employed in the clearance h between said friction discs.

The small amount of water which may enter the space i to counteract the pressure effect in chamber g is continuously drained off through the flexible drainage conduit or pipe lc. This may consist either of a simple exlble hose or pipe as shown in Fig. 6, or may be made in the form of telescopicaily engaged parts n terminating in the balls or spheres m1 and m" as shown in Fig. 7.

The connectiony of slip `coupling A with'friction coupling B is performed by the elastic coupling C illustrated in Fig. 5. In this figure, the elastic element, a spiral spring e, is clearly shown, together with the arrangement of the spring sockets at both ends of the spiral spring as well as the settingy of said sockets in the respective members of the slip coupling A on the one hand and friction coupling B onthe otherl hand. The same figure also illustrates how an axial displacement of disc bz'relative to the ref volving parts of A may take place.

paratus above described. In this view, for the sake of clarity, the ilexible coupling C has omitted. As shown in this figure, in the hydraulic fluid supply pipe line I, spaced devices 2 andA slip coupling A. The centrifugal 'governor'. II

on the driven shaft b4is connected with a valve I2 in the pipe line I3 which feeds the servomotor I4 operating valve I5 for the admission through conduits I6, I8 and b6 of the operating uid to' the pressure chamber g of the friction coupling.

The interior of the casing D is connected at 25 and 26 with a vacuum Pump and pump for removing the operating fluid respectively. AConnection 26 will not interfere with or prevent the development of a vacuum in casing D because of the special design of this pump, not shown in the drawings. Pipe^28 connects said casing with a vacuum meter 21, the piston of which controls valve 29 to close the oil admission V"conduit 30 anddischarge conduit-32 respectively, of a servomotor 3|. is influenced by the spring 33 operates a valve 34 and through the pipe or conduit 35 supplies pressure fluid to the two ejectors 36 and 31 arranged in conduits I6 and 6 respectively,v to draw water past the check valves 38 and 39.` For the purpose of lubricating the friction plates or discs b1 and b2 oil is supplied through the pipe 45 which is provided with control valve 44 operated by servomotor I4 through a time relay 43.

The part a5 of the friction slip coupling is provided with spaced blades as shown in Fig. 3, and since the pressure in the space accommodating these blades, is `higher than-the outside pressure, if the space between said blades is closed on one side, as in Figure 4, the axial thrust on the part ai may .become sovgreat that thefric-f tion disc I3 on the driven shaft'will be displaced,

and thus cause undesired binding of this -disc against the loose friction disc or` plate b2. 'Ihis of course, must be'avoided, and therefore, the blades d1 of the part a5 are open on both sides in the axial direction within the enclosing walls b of the part a3l so that any excessive axial thrust on the part als is avoided'since the pressures in the axial direction are equally balanced within the part a3.

In operation, when the control devices 2 and 3 areopened, hydraulic operating fluid is supplied to the coupling- A, the rotation of the driving shaft and part a3 producing eddies therein so that in a few seconds, the part as is brought to a slipping rotating speed which is very near to the synchronous speed.

- The friction 4plates. b' and b2 partake -mthe rotation with the primary part a3 by means of the elastic element c. As'soon as the required speed of the -part a of the slip coupling is reached, the pressure chamber a is lled with the hydraulic liquid around the two friction plates. A high centrifugal pressure is here produced, under the influence -of which the two friction plates are forced towards each other `against the actionv of the springs b and are tightly pressedginto frictlonal engagement with The piston of servomotor 3| which.

been

In order to release the coupled connection between the driving land driven shafts, it is only necessary to shut off the supply of pressure fluid. With the friction coupling engaged the operating fluid. is in a constant ow through the couplingand through pipe be, and leaving partly through a number of holes s1 and having a certain pre-determined area, while the remainder is drained off by the openings s2 which, however, are so arranged that the operating fluid can leave by said 'openings only when the -whole inner part of the coupling is completely filled so that the holes s2 are draining Off all the excess fluid which does not pass through the holes s1. Naturally, when the supply of operating fluid'is stopped, owing to the action of the centrifugal forces, all of the fluid inside the couplings is rather quickly forced out through the aforementioned openings and thus the action on the friction clutch is removed ,with

the result that the friction is disengaged. Thereupon, the pressure chambery being very narrow, is quickly emptied so that the springs b7 will overcome the centrifugal pressure and rey through the pipe I3 to the servomotor I4, the

piston of which is actuated to move valve I5 to the open position. Water may now be drawn Athrough the conduit I6 and pipe b6 to the pressure chamber g of the hydraulically actuated friction coupling. This drawing of the water into the pressure chambers ofthe two coupling units is caused by the high vacuum which is maintained within the casing D. Should this vacuum fail for any reason, the vacum meter 21 which is balanced by a suitable spring and atmospherick pressure against the vacuum within the casing, is caused to operate, the piston thereof being moved by atmospheric pressure in the pipe line 28 connected with the casing D. Valve 29 on the one hand is connected to oil pressure main 3|! and return main 32, while on the other hand a connection to the small piston valve 34 is provided for. The control pin of valve 29 being in rigid connection with 21 is designed soV as, under normal operating conditions, to establish connection of pressure main 30 with thepassage leading to the servomotor 3l with .the result that by the action of the pressure oil, valve 34 is kept closed. This tained as long as normal conditions in the coupling casing D prevail, or in other words, as long as a vacuum is maintained'ln D and piston 21 stands in its upper position in which it is heldby the vacuum onone side and the atmospheric pressure 'on the other side. Now, should the vacuum inside the vcasing D fail, piston 21 will move downward by the .action of a, spring on the upper side of the piston with the result that the control pin of valve 23 will now block the connection between 30 and the passage v.to 3|, while on the other hand, connectiongbetwecn the servomotor 3| and the return condition is mainopened by the action of spring 33.

is thereby operated so that it cuts off the admis'- 4, the piston thereof returning main 32 is established with the result that the pressure on the-piston is removed and valve 34 The valve 29 sion of oil through conduit 30 to the servomotor 3l and opens the oil discharge pipe 32. The valve 34 which was held closed'under thepressure of the oil is thus permitted to move to its open position under the infiuence of the spring 33 so that pressure water obtained from outside sources, preferably from the penstock of a turbine, lor from that of a pump, not shown, may enter the pipe 35 and be delivered-from the two ejectors' 36 and 31. These ejectors thus operate to ,draw water from a suitable supply source past the check valves 38 and 39 which in the event of failure of the vacuum produced by these ejectors assume their closed positions.

Regarding the operation of valve-device 3, as

lhas been clearly stated, it is to be noted that said valve-device 3 is under the control of the guide apparatus of the pump the delivery pipe. From this it is evident that the operation of valve-device 3 is dependent upon the operative state of the pump to which the coupling is connected.

The automatic operation of valve-device 3 -is performed by the opening of the sluice valve and/or the guide apparatus of the pump with which the valve-device is connected in such manner that with open pump, the valve-device is closed while the closed sluice valve and/or guide apparatus of the pump valve-device 3 is open.

Opening of the pump sluice valve and/or guide apparatus in turn is initiated by the pressure which is built up with increasing speed during starting, bywhich on the other hand the governor also comes into action, with the engaged friction clutch, pump sluice valve and/or guide apparatus is opened while at the same time valve-device 3 is closed. l

As soon as the friction coupling has been engaged and the full vtorque passes through the coupling after the pump sluice valve has been opened to the full, control valve 3 ly operated to shut off the further flow of pressure uid through pipe line I so that there is no further supply of 'such fluid to the servomotor to normal position and thus closing the valve 5 to prevent the supply of pressure fluid to the hydraulic slip coupling.

The servomotor i4 which controlsheadmission of pressure fluid for the operation of the hydraulic friction coupling through the time relay t3 remains connected with the supply pipe line i and opens communication between the. friction coupling and the lubricant supply pipe` i5 so that lubricant is supplied to the friction plates upon movement of said plates to their engaged or disengaged positions, and then cuts off further supply of the lubricant thereto.

From the above description, it is believed that the construction and manner of operation of the several parts of our improved coupling apparatus" It will be seen. that 1 relation which is entirely automatic in its action.

We have herein shown a practical embodiment of our present improvements which has been found coupling, and a flexible and/or the sluice valve in is automaticalhighly efficient and reliable in its operation. Nevertheless, it is to be understood that the essential features of our present disclosure may also "be incorporated in various other alternative structural forms, and we accordingly, reserve the vprivilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes therein as may -be fairly incorporated within the spirit and scope. of the invention as claimed. Y

We claim: i

1. In combination with driving and drivenv members, power transmission coupling means therefor including an asynchronous hydraulic slip coupling, a hydraulically yoperated friction coupling between a part of said friction coupling and one of said members, and a common enclosing casing for the slip coupling, the friction coupling andthe exible coupling.

2. In combination members, transmission coupling means therefor, including an asynchronous hydraulic slip coupling, anda hydraulically operated friction coupling, having a common enclosing casing for the slip. coupling means for supplying pressure uid under the influence of a vacuum within said casing for the operation of each of said couplings.

3. In lcombination with driving and driven members, transmission coupling means therefor, including an asynchronousv hydraulic slip coupling and a hydraulically operated friction coupling in which the friction coupling includes a friction disc on the driven member and pressure plates cooperating therewith. and axially movable relative thereto, and coacting surfaces balancing said plates on a part of the hydraulic slip coupling in the released positions of said plates and coacting surfaces on the plates and said -friction disc balancing4 said plates in their effective coupling position.

4.1m combination with driving and driven members, transmission coupling means therefor including an asynchronous hydraulic -slip coupling and a hydraulically operated friction coupling, in which said friction coupling includes f a friction disc on the driven shaft, and axially movable pressure plates at opposite sides thereof actuated to their engaged positions by hydraulic fluid pressure, the outer peripheral portions of said plates being formed to provide a space, yielding means plates to their releasedposition, and a single packed clearance between the edges of said plates.

5. In combination with driving and driven members, transmission coupling means therefor including an asynchronous hydraulic slip coupling and a hydraulically operated friction coupling, in which said friction coupling includes .a friction discon the driven shaft, and axially movable pressure plates at opposite sides thereof actuated to their engaged positions by hydraulic uid pressure, the outer peripheral portions of said plates being formed to provide a space therebetween, spring means in said spacey urging the plates to their released positions, and a flexible water discharge connection to the outer edge portions of said friction pressurev plates. 6. In combinationv with driving and driven members, an asynchronous hydraulic slip coupling, a exible coupling, and a friction disc coupling mounted on the driven member vhaving cooperative pressure plates axially movable with driving' "and driven Y and friction coupling, and

in said space, urging the pla.

thereto, and coacting means for balancing the plates in respective released and effective coupling positions.

'7. A hydraulic coupling comprising means for transmitting power from a driving to a. driven member including an asynchronous hydraulic slip coupling and a hydraulically operated friction coupling, a common enclosing casing for said slip and friction couplings, means for operating the slip coupling to drive the driven member at less than synchronous speed, means ln connection with the driven member actuated at' a pre-determined speed of said driven member to cause the friction coupling to assume full eiiective engagement whereby to operate the driven member at synchronous speed.

8. A hydraulic couplingfcomprisingmeansfor transmitting power from a driving to a driven member including an asynchronous hydraulic slip coupling and a hydraulically operated friction coupling, means for operating the slip coupling for driving the driven member at less than synchronous speed, means in connection with the driven member actuated at a pre-determined speed of said driven member to cause the friction coupling to assume full effective engagement whereby to operate the driven member at synchronous speed,. means for operating said coupling units by fluid pressure, and means to open or cut 4off the uid pressure supply for the respective coupling units.

9. A hydraulic coupling comprising means for transmitting power from a driving to a driven member including an asynchronous hydraulic slip coupling and a hydraulically operated friction coupling, means for operating the slip coupling to drive the driven member at less than syn-- chronous speed, means in connection with the driven member actuated at a pre-determined speed of said driven member to' cause the friction coupling toassume full effective engagement whereby to operate the driven member at synchronous speed, means for operating said coupling units by iiuid pressure, means to open or cut oif the fluid pressure supply for the' respective coupling units, and a com-mon enclosing casunits having a vacuum therein whereby the pressure fluid is drawn into the respective coupling units.

10. -A hydraulic coupling comprising means for transmitting power from a driving to a' driven member including an asynchronous hydraulic slip coupling and a hydraulically operated friction coupling, means for operating the slip couplingto drive the driven member at less than synchronous speed, means in connection with the driven member actuated at a pre-determined speed of said driven member to cause the fricassume full eective engagement whereby to operate the'driven member at synchronous speed, means for operating said couplingA units by fluid pressure, means to open or cut oif the iiuid pressure supply for the respective coupling units, a common enclosing casing for said coupling units having a vacuum therein whereby the pressure uid is drawn into the respective coupling units. auxiliary pressure fluid supply means for the coupling units, and means automatically operating in the event of failure of the means to actuate the auxiliary supply means and supply the operating fluid'to the coupling units.

11. A hydraulic coupling comprising means for transmitting power from av driving to a driven member including an asynchronous hydraulic slip coupling and a hydraulically operated" friction couplinga common enclcsing casing for said slip and friction couplings, means for operating the slip coupling to drive the driven mem- 5 ber at less than synchronous speed, means in connection with the driven member actuated at a pre-determined speed of said driven member tc cause the friction coupling to assume full effective engagement whereby to operate the driven member at synchronous speed, and 'meal-1s controlled' by a time relay for supplying lubricant to said friction coupling.

12. A power transmission coupling having in combination with driving and driven elements, an asynchronous hydraulic slip coupling, a hydraulically operated friction coupling including a normally released pressure plate which is movable into effective coupling position, a casing in which' the slip coupling and friction coupling are enclosed, means for supplying pressure uid under the iniiuence of a vacuum within the casing for the operation of each of said couplings, and means under the control of the speed of the driven element for moving said pressure plate 25 into effective coupling position, said last-named means being eiiective when the driven element attains a predetermined speed.

13. In a power transmission coupling Vwhich includes an asynchronous hydraulic slip coupling 30 having its cooperative parts connected respectively with driving and 4driven elements, the transmission coupling comprising a hydraulic/ friction'coupling, a flexible part between the slip and hydraulic friction coupling, said hydraulic 3i friction coupling comprising two axially displaceable pressure plates oneof which is connected with the driving element through the medium of said flexible part, a friction plate secured to the driven shaft and disposed between said axially 40 displaceable plates, the second of the axially displaceable plates being held normally displaced by yielding means, the said axially displaceable plates having perlpheries shaped to form a space in which said yielding-means is disposed for operation, and said second displaceable plate being arranged for movement against the yielding means into eiective clutching position, and means in connection with the driven element actuated at a predetermined speed of said driven( element for moving the said second displaceable plate against the yielding means and into eiective clutching position.

14. A hydraulic coupling comprising means for transmitting power from a driving to a driven member including an asynchronous hydraulic slip coupling, a flexible coupling having one end connected with the slip coupling, a hydraulic friction coupling having an axially'movable part normally released against the other end of the iiexible coupling, a common enclosing casing for said couplingavalved means controlling the admission of working fluid for operating the slip coupling whereby to drive the driven member at less than synchronous speed, valved means controlling the admission of Working fluid for moving said axially movable part into effective coupling engagement whereby to operate the driven member at synchronous speed, and means for automatically operating the last-named valved means including a centrifugal governor on the driven member adapted to be actuated at a pre-determined speed'of said driven member.

15. In combination with driving and driven members, an asynchronous hydraulic slip coupling having primary and secondary elements connected respectively with said members, a hyadmitting working fluid to the slip coupling fordriving the driven member at less than synchronous speed, means for admitting working fluid to the friction coupling to force the normally releasedy part into full coupling engagement for driving the driven member at synchronous speed, said last-named admission means being eifective only'after the secondary element has attained a given speed, and means forI discharging ow from the friction coupling to permit automatic release ofsaid normally releasable part. v

16. In combination with driving and driven members, power transmission couplings therefor including an asynchronous hydraulic slip coupling having primary and secondary parts the radial blades of which have passages between them for permitting a balanced. equilibrium oi pressure in the pressure spaces and avoiding axial movement of the blades, a hydraulic friction coupling having a part connected with the driven member and a resiliently urged normally released part, a flexible coupling arranged to act between said vnormally released part and said slip coupling, and a casing common to all o f said couplings enclosing the same.

' HEINRICH R'sLE. -EaNs'r sErBoLD. 

